ROCHESTER, N.H. — The state has fined the fire department in Rochester for burning down four buildings. The city has agreed to pay an environmental fine of $3,500, and the fire department will conduct $9,000 of training.
The fire department burned a home, two sheds and a mobile home last year that the city school district wanted to get rid of. Environmental Services Commissioner Tom Burack said a fire department is only allowed to burn buildings for training, and it must notify the state and remove hazardous materials first.
He said the department removed hazardous materials but did not notify the state and burned the buildings to dispose of them, not for training. School officials say the buildings would have cost much more to demolish than be burned down.
The Associated Press